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When President Barack Obama visited Strasbourg, France to attend a NATO Summit in 2009, he spoke at a town hall meeting on the eve of the Summit. On that occasion, he remarked:

“Strasbourg has been known throughout history as a city at the crossroads. Over thousands of years, you straddled many kingdoms and many cultures. Two rivers are joined here. Two religions have flourished in your churches. Three languages comprise an ancient oath that bears the city's name.”

President Obama’s characterization of Strasbourg captures the uniqueness of the largest city in the Grand Est region of France. Located in the northeast corner of the country, this more than 2000-year-old city shares a border with Germany with foods, languages and culture that are neither French nor German: They are truly Alsatian, a culture of its own. The two countries argued over custody of the region for centuries.

Here are some reasons why Strasbourg is such a compelling destination for international visitors.

1) OMG, it’s simply beautiful

First-time visitors to Strasbourg will feel as if they are looking at a movie backdrop. The city’s rich architectural heritage embraces styles from the Medieval, Renaissance, Romantic and Art Nouveau eras. The old town is a maze of narrow streets and alleys that beckon you to wander and look up at the rooflines and steeples. The reflections of half-timbered houses with sloping roofs, reminiscent of those seen in fairytales, recur in the many waterways surrounding and running through the city. Cascades of brightly colored flowers hang over balconies and bridges. At every turn, you will want to stop and take photographs.

A half-timbered building in La Petite France, Strasbourg

Jerome Levine

2) It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site

In 1988, UNESCO recognized the portion of the city within the Ill River, Strasbourg-Grand-Ill, as a World Heritage Site. Noteworthy was the fact that this was the first time this recognition was conferred not to a single monument but to an entire historic center of a city. In 2017, UNESCO extended the scope of the area to include the “new town” built between 1871 and 1914 after annexation by Prussia.

Canal in Strasbourg

Pixabay

3) Have you tasted a tarte flambée?

Alsatian cuisine couples the hearty fare of Germany with the delicacy and presentation of France. Wherever you turn, you are likely to find a small restaurant, café or winstub (family-owned eateries in Alsace, specializing in wine) that offer local dishes. Among foodies, Strasbourg is known as the birthplace of foie gras, invented here in 1780.

Tarte flambée (much like pizza) is an all-day-long snack. Made with a thin flatbread-like crust covered with various toppings (most 0ften cream, bacon and onions), it is baked in a bread oven. Braided pretzels, claimed to have origins in both France and Germany, are also ubiquitous street foods.

Tarte flambée

Jerome Levine

Other local dishes worth sampling include Alsatian choucroute, made either with fish or braised pork served on an ample bed of sauerkraut; and spaetzle, a type of noodle often served with a fish stew. You can try these and other specialties at Maison des Tanneurs, a former tannery built in 1572.

Strasbourg is a stone’s throw from the Route des Vins, the Alsatian Wine Trail, known for producing excellent varietals including Gewürztraminer, Pinot Noir and Riesling wines. If you prefer sparkling, be sure to sample the local Crème d’Alsace. If you fancy beer, there are five breweries in Alsace including Villa Meteor, one of the oldest private breweries in the country. Dessert? Try the kougelhopf cake (a sweet, yeasty Alsatian pudding cake baked in a Bundt pan) or just about anything else from the venerable Patisserie Christian Strasbourg.

Kougelhopf pans in a kitchen store in Strasbourg

Jerome Levine

4) The amazing Strasbourg Cathedral

Both the interior and exterior of the Strasbourg Cathedral are extraordinary, once called by Victor Hugo “a prodigy of the gigantic and the delicate.” Built on the foundations of a Roman basilica, the structure dominates Cathedral Square, which is the hub of the city day and night. Once the tallest structure in Christendom until the 19th century, the Cathedral’s Gothic facade is so ornate that it looks lacework framing the stunning rose window at its center.

Rosette window of the Strasbourg Cathedral

Jerome Levine

The oldest stained glass windows inside, which date back to the 13th century, frame the Gothic nave and pulpit. But the most interesting curiosity, perhaps, is the intricate Astronomical Clock built in 1547, a technological marvel. Each day at exactly 12:30 PM, a procession of carved apostles marches around in front of Christ. Beneath that, characters representing the four stages of man pass before Death.

5) La Petite France: stuck in time

An easy walk from the Cathedral Square, this picturesque and well-preserved historic district at the west side of the Grand Ill once housed the millers and tanners. Most of the houses in La Petite France, which are surrounded by four canals, date back to the 16th and 17th centuries. Still standing at the edge of the district are four 14th century towers, remnants of the town's ramparts. The name of the area derives from its history as a hospice during the 16th century for soldiers who contracted syphilis. The narrow streets are filled with outdoor restaurants and shops. One of the city’s charming small hotels, Regent Petite France, sits right on a canal offering water views.

6) A little city with a lot of culture

With a significant student population (about 20%) and diversity of immigrants, Strasbourg is a vibrant, cosmopolitan city. Four bridges (including a pedestrian footbridge that is also used by cyclists)—symbols of French-German reconciliation—provide links between France and Germany.

Whether a visitor’s interests lean towards art, architecture or music, Strasbourg offers plenty of cultural opportunities. The city has more than 10 museums, including an Archaeological Museum, Museum of Decorative Arts, Museum of Fine Arts, Alsatian Museum, Historical Museum and Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, a Zoological Museum and Planetarium. The city also has a philharmonic orchestra (founded in 1855), a National Opera, and National Theatre. Strasbourg hosts various festivals throughout the year and has one of the oldest Christmas markets in Europe.

IF YOU GO

Because it houses the European Parliament, Strasbourg has an international airport offering connections to many cities throughout Europe. The high-speed TGV train from Paris takes less than 2 hours, making the city a great destination for a day visit.

European Parliament Building in Strasbourg

Jerome Levine

Another way to visit is to take a river or barge cruise with Strasbourg on the itinerary.

However you get there, once you experience Strasbourg, you’ll want to return and stay longer!